By an overwhelming 75 - 16 margin, New York State voters say Elian Gonzalez should
go home to Cuba with his father, rather than stay with relatives in the U.S., according to a
Quinnipiac College poll released today.

Almost half of all New Yorkers -- 49 percent -- say they have followed the Gonzalez
story "very closely," while 41 percent say they have followed it "somewhat closely."

Fifty-nine percent of New York voters say federal agents used "appropriate" force to
remove Gonzalez from the home of Miami relatives, while 36 percent say agents used
"excessive" force.

New Yorkers approve 54 - 38 percent of the way Attorney General Janet Reno has
handled the case, but disapprove 24 - 44 percent of the way Vice President Al Gore has handled
the case.

Only 22 percent approve of the way the media has handled the story, while 72 percent
disapprove.

"Tough stuff seems to work. Janet Reno is a winner for seizing Elian. Vice President
Gore, who looked wishy-washy to many, comes out on the minus side," said Maurice Carroll,
director of the Quinnipiac College Polling Institute.

"It was all Elian all the time on TV and in the newspapers. New Yorkers read and
watched avidly, but they don't approve of the media who brought all that news to them."

In the Presidential matchup, Vice President Gore holds a 52 - 36 percent lead over Texas
Gov. George W. Bush among New York State voters, unchanged from his 53 - 36 percent lead
in an April 6 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College.

With Pat Buchanan running on the Reform Party line, Gore gets 50 percent to 34 percent
for Bush to 4 percent for Buchanan.

By a 36 - 25 percent margin, voters statewide have a favorable opinion of Gore, with 32
percent mixed and 7 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion. This is
unchanged from the April 6 Quinnipiac College poll.

Bush's favorability is a negative 24 - 38 percent, with 28 percent mixed and 10 percent
saying they don't know enough to form an opinion. This compares with his 26 - 39 percent
favorability April 6.

"Buchanan is yesterday's news. He's stuck in single digits with almost no impact on the
Presidential race in New York," Carroll said. "While Gore takes a hit for his position on Elian
Gonzalez, he still is way out in front of Bush."

Gov. George Pataki has a 58 - 29 percent approval rating, with a 44 - 43 percent
approval among Democrats.

20. If the election for President were being held today and the
candidates were Al Gore the Democrat, George W. Bush the Republican,
and Pat Buchanan the Reform Party candidate for whom would you vote?

23. How closely have you been following the case of Elian Gonzalez,
the six year old Cuban boy, who was found last year off the Florida
Coast after an accident that killed his mother and others who were
trying to escape from Cuba - have you been following it very closely,
somewhat closely, not very closely or not at all closely?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Very closely 49% 48% 50% 49% 53% 50% 43% 46% 50%

Smwht closely 41 43 39 40 40 38 46 41 41

Not very closely 7 5 8 8 4 8 7 8 6

Not at all
closely 3 4 2 3 2 3 2 4 2

DK/NA 1 - 1 - - 1 - 1 -

24. As you may know, federal agents physically removed Elian Gonzalez
from the home of his Miami relatives, to return him to his father.
Do you think the federal agents involved used excessive force in removing
Elian Gonzalez from the Miami home or the appropriate amount of force to
get the job done?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Excessive force 36% 36% 35% 37% 45% 31% 36% 33% 39%

Appropriate
amount of force 59 57 61 58 49 66 60 64 55

DK/NA 5 7 3 4 6 4 4 4 6

25. Which one of the following solutions do you think would be in the
best interests of Elian Gonzalez?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom
For him to remain in the United
States to live with relatives
who have requested he stay here 16% 17% 16% 15% 27% 11% 14% 15% 17%

For him to return with his father
to Cuba, as his father has
requested? 75 73 77 75 62 84 73 75 74

DK/NA 9 10 8 10 11 4 13 10 9

26. Overall, since it started last November, do you approve or disapprove
of the way that President Bill Clinton has handled the
Elian Gonzalez situation?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 50% 49% 52% 49% 38% 62% 50% 52% 48%

Disapprove 39 41 36 39 51 28 39 38 39

DK/NA 11 10 12 12 11 10 11 10 12

27. Overall, since it started last November, do you approve or disapprove
of the way that Attorney General Janet Reno has handled the Elian
Gonzalez situation

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 54% 53% 56% 53% 41% 64% 55% 57% 52%

Disapprove 38 39 37 39 51 30 38 38 39

DK/NA 8 8 8 7 9 6 7 5 9

28. Overall, since it started last November, do you approve or disapprove
of the way that Vice President Al Gore has handled the Elian Gonzalez
situation?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 24% 21% 30% 20% 16% 33% 21% 24% 23%

Disapprove 44 41 45 46 50 36 50 49 39

DK/NA 33 37 25 35 34 32 29 26 37

29. Overall, since it started last November, do you approve or disapprove
of the way that New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has handled the Elian
Gonzalez situation?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 21% 18% 23% 25% 36% 15% 20% 23% 20%

Disapprove 37 26 52 36 16 53 37 37 37

DK/NA 42 56 25 38 48 32 43 39 43

30. Overall, since it started last November, do you approve or disapprove
of the way that Elian's relatives in Miami have handled the Elian
Gonzalez situation?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 21% 22% 20% 21% 33% 15% 20% 22% 20%

Disapprove 72 70 73 72 58 78 75 72 71

DK/NA 7 8 7 7 9 6 5 6 9

31. Overall, since it started last November, do you approve or disapprove
of the way that Juan Miguel Gonzalez, the father of Elian has handled
the Elian Gonzalez situation?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 63% 61% 65% 65% 56% 69% 62% 66% 61%

Disapprove 24 26 22 22 31 19 27 24 24

DK/NA 13 13 13 13 13 12 11 11 15

32. Overall, since it started last November, do you approve or disapprove
of the way that the news media has handled the Elian Gonzalez situation?